Convertible car.



E. C. HARLLBB.

CONVERTIBLE GAR.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 18, 1908.

Patented Mar. 2, 1909.

. SHEETS-SHEET 1.

I .fl

HH. In

Illllllmmw HHHIHHM mln mth,

lmmlwf lillIHHII :HI llulfmhi@ "W sus co., wAsHlNowN. D. c.

. E. G. HARLLEE.

CONVERTIBLE GAR.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 18. 1908.

Patented Mar. 2, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

fm: Nonnls Petrus co.. wAsHlNcroN, D. c:4

ELIZABETH C. HARLLEE, OF RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA.

CONVERTIBLE CAR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 2, 1909.

Application filed March 18, 1908. Serial No. 421,767.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELIZABETH C. HARLLEE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Raleigh, in the county of I'Vake and State of North Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Convertible Cars, of Which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for converting open or summer cars into closed cars.

The object of the invention is to provide impoved means of the character described.

ancillary object of the invention is to provide an improved convertible chair.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention, Figure 1 is a portion of a transverse section of a car provided with the improved chair, the chair being shown in side elevation and in position to render the car closed; Fig. 2 is a portion of a longitudinal section of a car showing a front elevation of the chair, the chair being also shown in this figure as adapted to render the car closed; Fig. 3 is an elevation showing a chair after it has been converted from the chair shown in Figs. 1 and 2, in which it is adapted for individual use, to an extended seat to accommodate a number of persons; Fig. 4 is an end view of the seat as shown in Fig. 2 Fig. 5 is a transverse section of a car containing the improved chairs, the chairs being arranged in the form shown in Fig. 3 and extending transversely of the car to form the familiar transverse seats of open or summer cars, the car being open when the arrangement is as shown in Fig. 5 5 and, Fig. 6 is an enlarged view showing a transverse section of the car floor taken through a track and runway for casters supporting the chair, the caster being shown in elevation.

Referring to the drawings the car comprises a roof A, side posts B having openings between them, windows Cflloor D, steps E and chairs adapted to be placed to close the openings between the posts B to form a closed car, in the structure shown the window C also aiding in closing these openings, the chairs being convertible into the longer seats as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 when the sides of the car will be left open and the seats may be arranged transversely of the car as shown in Fig. 5.

Each chair comprises a back 1 which is hinged to the seat 2 by means of links 8 and 4, each being pivoted at its ends to the seat and back respectively. At one end the link 4 is pivoted with a pin-and-slot connection, the slot 8 and pin 9, whereby adjustment of the chair is permitted in converting it from a chair into an extended seat as will be referred to more in detail hereafter. The seat portion is provided with a bracket 5 adapted to receive the lower end of the back when the chair is in the position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, to steady and support the same. The seat portion 2 is supported upon the base 6 by means of a swivel 7 which, for ease of working, is preferably a ball bearing as shown. The base 6 is supported by casters 10 the rollers of which run in runways 11 cut in the car floor. These runways (see particularly Fig. 6) preferably have metal strips 12 at their bottoms to form running surfaces for the caster rollers 13, and beneath the strips 14 which overlap the edges of the runway extend projections 15. These project from the bracket 16 in which the caster roller is rotatably mounted, this bracket being secured to the base 6 of the chair. In the movement of the car it might happen that the caster rollers would jump out of their runway if means such as overlapping strips 14 and the projections l5 were not provided. It will be seen that with the construction shown this could not hap en.

Each of the windows (l) is hinged at 17 to the car and at its lower end has a groove 18 into which the upper corner of the chair back' is adapted to iit when the chair is in position to close the car, as shown in Fig. 1. To the lower end of the chair back is hinged a board or flap 19 which, coming against the outer side of the floor, as shown, closes the opening between the chair back and the floor. It will be obvious that a similar flap hinged to the car Hoor and resting against the bottom of the chair back would answer the same purpose. It will now be seen that a window, a chair back and the flap at the lower end of the chair back completely close the opening between two upright posts of the car, and all the openings having been closed in this manner the car will be closed and a row of chairs extending longitudinally upon each side of the car will be provided. To secure the chair in position, a vertical sliding bolt 20 is provided, this bolt being mounted in the chair seat and engaging with the base while its end is adapted to enter holes provided in the car floor for that purpose.

In order that the chairs, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 may be converted into the form as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, to form transverse seats and leave the car open, each chair seat is provided with two portions 21 and 22 which lie one on top of the other when the chair is arranged as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Each of these portions has cushions upon both of its sides and one of the portions is hinged to the chair seat at one side, the other portion being hinged to the chair seat at the opposite side. ln a similar manner the chair back is provided with two portions 2.3 and 24 hinged to the chair back at opposite edges thereof respectively, and adapted to be folded one on top of the other when the chair isin the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and each of the portions of the back just referred to are cushioned upon both sides. For supporting the portion 22 of the chair seat at substantially right angles to the seat, a foldable support consisting of links 25 and 26 are provided these linlrs being pivoted together, their other ends being pivoted to the portion 22 and the chair seat respectively. Similar means is provided for supporting the portion 21 of the seat. To support the portion 24 at substantially right angles to the chair back a similar means is provided comprising the links 29 and 30 which are pivoted to each other and to the portion 24 and the chair back respectively. A similar means is provided for supporting the portion 23 at substantially right angles tothe chair back.

Fivoted to the chair back are legs 33 and 34 which swing against the back when it is in upright position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 but which extend at substantially right angles therefrom and serve to support the same when the back is moved into horizontal position as shouui in Figs. 3, 4 and 5.

A sliding bolt serves to support the end of the chair back, when in its horizontal posi tion, upon being projected beneath the end thereof, the movement ofthe back into vertical position being permitted up on withdrawal of the bolt.

A spring catch 36 is provided for securing the portions 22 and 24 of the chair back and seat together so as to form a practically continuous bach for the long seat when the chair is in the position shown in Fig. 3. A catch similar to the catch 36 is provided for securing the portions 21 and 23 together.

rEhe chairs being in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the car will be closed as before indicated. lf now it be.desired to have the car open, the flap 19 will be folded against the chair back and, the bolts 20 and 50 hav-A ing been withdrawn from their holes in the car floor, the chair may be moved toward the center of the car, upon the casters 10. The desired position having been reached the bolts may be again thrown into engagement with the floor when the chair will be securely held in position. The closure C, shown as a window but which may be a wooden panel or other suitable means may then be thrown to open position as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 1 or, if it is desired, it may be left closed.

it has been before observed that the bolt 20 is mounted in the chair seat and engages with the chair 6. Under such circumstances,

the chair is held stationary with relation to d its base. if, however, it is desired to produce a swiveled chair, the bolt 20 may be withdrawn to such an extent to clear the base 6 when the chair seat and back are free to turn upon the base, the base being held in position by means of the bolt 50.

'Vi-.7 hen the long transverse seats of the character familiar in open cars are desired, the chair is released by withdrawing the bolts as before described and moved forward in its runway sufficient to clear the sides of the car. it is then turned on its swivel through approximately 180 degrees and again secured in position. rThe chair back is then bodily raised vertically, the pin-andslot connection of the link 4 permitting this movement, and is then turned about its lower end as an axis into a horizontal position and in line with the chair seat, this position being clearly shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. The seat portion 22 and the back portion 24 may then be raised to constitute a back for the elongated seat, these portions being supported at substantially right angles to the chair seat and back respectively by the links 25, 26 and 29, 80, the portions 22 and 24 being held in alinement by the spring catch. The back thus formed is suitable when the car is moving in one direction. lf it is to move in the other direction, a similar back is.

formed upon the opposite side of the seat by raising and supporting the portions 21 and 23 in a manner similar to that described in connection with the portions 22 and 24. As shown particularly in Fig. 5, the chair-bacl s of two chairs upon transversely opposite sides of the car are let down toward each other so that the elongated seats formed thereby come into close proximity and the two converted chairs thus form a practically continuous transverse seat across the car.

1ihen it is desired to reconvert the long sea-ts into chairs this will be accomplished by an inverse operation to that employed in converting the chairs into the elongated seats as is obvious.

What l claim is- 1. The combination with a car having openings in its sides, of chairs upon the floor thereof, said chairs having bases movable toward and away from the said sides, back portions swiveled upon said bases, and seat portions.

2. The combination with a ear havingy openings in its sides, of chairs upon the floor thereof movable toward and away from said openings, rollers supporting said chairs, said iioors having runways for said rollers for guiding said chairs in their movements toward and away from said openings, and means for securing said chairs 1n position.

3. The combination with a car having openings in its sides, of chairs upon the floor thereof movable toward and away from said openings, rollers supporting said chairs, said floor having runways for said rollers to guide the chairs in their movements toward and away from said openings and means for preventing said rollers from jumping `from said runways.

4. The combination with a car having openings in its sides, of chairs upon the floor thereof, said chairs having bases and back and seat portions swiveled thereon, rollers supporting said bases and means for guiding said chairs in their movements to and from said openings.

5. In a chair, the combination with a seat portion, of a back portion, means for supporting said back portion to form a back for said seat portion and means for supporting said' back portion in position to form, with said seat portion, an extended seat, said back portion comprising means for forming a back to the extended portion of the seat.

6. In a chair the combination with a seat portion, of a back portion, means for supporting said back portion to form a back for said seat portion and means for supporting said back portion in position to form, with said seat portion, an extended seat, said back portion comprising means for forming a back to the extended portion of the seat, and said seat portion comprising means for forming a back for said seat portion.

7. In a chair, the combination with a seat portion, of a back portion, means for supporting said back portion, to form a back for said seat portion, and means for supporting said back in position to form, with said seat portion, an extended seat, said back portion comprising means for forming a back upon either side of the extended seat.

8. In a chair, the combination with a seat portion, of ra baek portion, means for supporting said back portion to form a back for said seat portion, and means for supporting said back portion in position to form, with said seat portion, an extended seat, said seat portion comprising means for forming a back upon either side thereof.

9. In a chair, the combination with a seat portion, of a back portion, means for supporting said back portion to form a back for said seat portion, and means for supporting A said back portion in position to form, with said seat portion, an extended seat, said back portion comprising parts hinged upon its opposite sides to form backs for said extended seat upon either side thereof.

10. In a chair, the combination with a seat portion, of a back portion, means for supporting said back portion to form a back for said seat portion, and means for supporting said back portion in position to form, with said seat portion, an extended seat, said seat portion comprising parts hinged upon opposite sides thereof to form a back upon either side thereof.

ll. In a chair, the combination with a seat portion, of a back portion, means for supporting said back portion to form a back for said seat portion, and means for supporting said back portion in position to form, with said seat portion, an extended seat, said seat portion having parts hinged upon opposite sides thereof and said back portion having parts hinged upon opposite sides thereof whereby a back throughout the entire length of the extended seat may be formed upon either side thereof.

l2. In a chair, the combination with a base, a chair back swiveled thereon, a chair seat, means for securing said back to form a back for said chair seat, means for supporting said chair back in position to form, with said chair seat, an extended seat, said chair back comprising means for forming a back for the extended seat and said chair seat comprising means for forming a back thereto.

13. The combination with a car having vertical side posts, of chairs fitting between said posts and movable toward and away from the same, a closure movably secured to the car and adapted to close the opening between said posts above said chair and a flap for closing the opening between the chair and the car floor.

14. The combination with a car having openings in the sides thereof, of chairs having backs adapted to fit into said openings and movable toward and away therefrom, means for guiding the chairs in their movement toward and from the openings, said chairs comprising a base, seat and back portions swiveled thereon, means for supporting said back portion in position to form a back for said seat portion and means for supporting said back to form with said seat portion, an extended seat, said seat )ortion comprising means for forming a baeli thereto and said back portion comprising means for forming a back thereto when it is in position to form an extended seat.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

ELIZABETH C. I'IARLLEE.

I/Vitnesses I. C. BLAIR, JOHN T. PELLEM. 

